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Ayrshire is a traditional county in south-west Scotland, located on the shores of the Firth of Clyde. Its principal towns include Ayr and Kilmarnock. The town of Troon (pop. 20,000) on the coast hosts the British Open every seven years, including the most recent one in 2004. Approximately 200,000 visitors come to Troon during this period.

Ayrshire is one of the most agriculturally fertile regions of Scotland. Potatoes are grown in fields near the coast, using seaweed-based fertiliser, and in addition the county produces pork products, other root vegetables, cattle (see below) and summer berries such as strawberries are grown abundantly.

It became part of the kingdom of Scotland during the 11th century. In 1263, the Scots successfully drove off a group of Norwegian Vikings in a skirmish known as the Battle of Largs.

A notable historic building in Ayrshire is Turnberry Castle , which dates from the 13th century or earlier, and which may have been the birthplace of Robert the Bruce.

Historic sub-regions of Ayrshire included:

• Carrick
• Cunninghame (or Cunningham)
• Kyle

The Ayrshire breed of cattleCattle are domesticated ungulates, a member of the subfamily Bovinae of the family Bovidae. They are raised as livestock for meat (called beef and veal), dairy products ( milk), leather and as draught animals (pulling carts, plows and the like). In some c originated here, prior to 1800.

The newly created StrathclydeStrathclyde was one of the regional council areas of Scotland from 1974 to 1996. It was named after the Kingdom of Strathclyde, which covered broadly the same area. Its largest city was Glasgow, and it was the largest region in the country, with a populat administrative RegionThe Council areas of Scotland form the local government areas of Scotland, all of them unitary authorities. They have been in use since April 1, 1996, under the provisions of the Local Government etc. Scotland) Act 1994. Before then the administrative div included Ayrshire in 1975. When the two-tier system was abandoned, Ayrshire split into the council regions of East AyrshireEast Ayrshire is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. It borders onto North Ayrshire, Renfrewshire, South Lanarkshire, South Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. Towns and villages Auchinleck Catrine Craigmalloch Cumnock Dalmellington Dalrymple D, South AyrshireSouth Ayrshire is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. It borders onto East Ayrshire and Dumfries and Galloway. Towns and villages Alloway, Ayr Ballantrae Crosshill Dailly Dalrymple Girvan Kirkoswald Lendalfoot Maybole Monkton Prestwick Tarbolto, and North AyrshireNorth Ayrshire is one of 32 unitary council regions in Scotland. It borders onto the regions of Renfrewshire, East Ayrshire, and South Ayrshire. Towns and villages Ardrossan Beith Dalry Dreghorn Fairlie Irvine Kilbirnie Kilwinning Largs Millport Great Cum, although the later also includes part of ButeshireButeshire is a small traditional county of Scotland. It comprises of a number of islands in the Firth of Clyde, the principal ones being Bute, Arran, and Great Cumbrae. In 2001 its usually resident population was 13,720. Currently Bute is part of the Unit.